Shane Geoghegan died outside his home after a hitman from one of the country's most dangerous criminal gangs mistook him for a feud rival.

Shane Geoghegan died outside his home after a hitman from one of the country's most dangerous criminal gangs mistook him for a feud rival. It was the third time the intended target has escaped an attempt on his life. Mr Geoghegan (28) was shot dead as he walked home from a friend's house in the early hours of yesterday morning.
His killing has shattered six months of an uneasy truce between Limerick's feuding criminal gangs and left the city reeling in horror. An assassin with the notorious McCarthy-Dundon gang mistook the popular Garryowen rugby player for a member of the rival Collopy gang who lived in the same Kilteragh estate. At least 15 shots were fired at Mr Geoghegan in the Kilteragh estate in Dooradoyle. At least one bullet struck him in the head. Mr Geoghegan had no involvement with the city's criminal gangs and was a completely innocent party. Like the murder of nightclub security manager Brian Fitzgerald in 2002, the killing of Mr Geoghegan, who was engaged, marks a new low in Limerick gun crime. While Mr Fitzgerald was the intended target, the assassin behind the murder of Mr Geoghegan mistook him for a rival member of the Collopy gang and fired repeatedly at him until he was dead. The intended target has previously curvived two attempts on his life. His home was raked with gunfire on August 23, 2006, and he narrowly escaped with his life. Up to 20 shots were fired at him as he got out of his car near his home. Miraculously, all the bullets missed him as his home and car were raked by gunfire. The man, who is in his 30s, lives in the Kilteragh estate with his partner and two children. A week after the attack his cousin was shot at as he walked through the Dooradoyle suburb. Previously he also escaped with his life when two senior members of the McCarthy-Dundon gang opened fire at him in the Southill area of the city. He received serious facial wounds and lost an eye in the attack. He was arrested and questioned by gardai as part of Operation Anvil in 2006 in connection with a major heroin and firearms seizure.
Mr Geoghegan played a match for Garryowen rugby club on Saturday afternoon and spent the evening socialising at a nearby friend's house after watching the Ireland-Canada rugby match. He was walking home at approximately 1.30am when a gunman opened fire on him. At least 15 shots were fired at the rugby player as he ran for his life before collapsing at the rear of a neighbour's house. The gunman fled from the area in a waiting dark-coloured Renault Espace which had been stolen a month previously. The car was later found burnt out in the nearby Rosbrien area. The intended target returned home after the murder and remained there yesterday where he lives with his partner and children.